I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
Over the last three days, Baltimore has seen an explosive reaction that began in sanctioned protest and grew into an ugly display of of anger and destruction.
Amid the violence, there was an army of clergy singing through the streets with a desire for good to prevail over evil. Top religious leaders of Baltimore placed themselves in harms way to end the violence, at one point on their knees in prayer at the corner of North and Fulton. Rev. Carter said “we must go back to the streets.”
This action by clergy is reaching out to young people, in their streets, on their turf…
A reporter said:
“The clergy are commanding this moment.
The clergy are going to where they can take charge."
Over time, a sense of unity began to develop as some who may have been part of the violence joined the prayer group. This is a generation that has lost its way, said one of the ministers. This is what happens when a dream is deferred.
Documented on video we hear the reporter saying: "What do you think of the state of emergency the governor has declared?"
The clergy respond with compassion: "There has been a state of emergency way before tonight: an emergency of poverty, a lack of jobs, disenfranchisement from the political process. It's been a long time coming."
The people of God see hope
we see potential
we see beyond the surface
to the despair that resides in the human heart
Despair... a lack of hope... comes out in ugly ways - anger, violence, murder.
People of God, we can speak into lives of people in despair.
Some are called to the front lines when there is a crisis
(Full video here: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/clergy-marches-against-violence/32606352)
Some are called to the rehabilitation efforts
And some are called to the process of long-term development
I'm not talking about excusing bad behavior and wrongdoing. I'm talking about knowing that the one who stepped in for us, on the cross of Calvary, stepped in for THIS too!
The people of God know that our creator can recreate the worst offender into one who brings Him glory - just look at Paul, who was formerly Saul. The process of repair and restoration comes through relationships that champion another person. With God himself as our champion, we find the strength and the ways to champion another person. It comes by being FOR another person, not being AGAINST them.
When we know that we've all come broken and the LORD is the one who stepped in and restored us, we can have the heart posture to step into the brokenness of another person's life and be the light in their darkness.
Where might the Lord be calling you to walk with another
and help them become all that God created them to be?
The words of Isaiah 58:6-12 are resounding in my mind:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
